Certificate of correction



CASH REGISTER Filed July 14, 1928 gin 0214f oz Wilhelm pff Patented June 3, 1930 W'ILHELM KROPFF, OF BERLIN -CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY,-ASSIGNOR TO THE NA- TIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF LAND DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF IIIARY- CASH REGISTER Application filed July 14, 1928, Serial No.

This invention relates to cash registers and like machines, and more particularly refers to means to control the anism of such machines.

It is an object of this invention'to provide a printing mechanism'for a well known type of cash register with novel means to control the number of impressions to be made at each operation of such machine.

With this and incidental objects in View, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a printing mechanism provided with one form of means constructed in accordance with this invention, to control the number of impressions to be made.

printing mech- Fig. 2 is a detail View of the hammer-' operating cam and the cam arm.

In general, the invention includes a control for a printing mechanism to adapt it to deliver either one or two impression blows at each operation of the machine. When, for instance, the machine is being used for listing a group of items, it is desired to make but one impression at each operation, but when printing on an inserted duplicate sales slip of conventional form or on other record material, it is sometimes desired to make two impressions from the same type set up at each operation of the machine. When entering certain classes of 292,681, and in Germany August 15, 1927.

This invention is an improvement over a feeler-controlled impression mechanism such, for instance, as the structure disclosed in the patent to B. M. Shipley, N 0. 1,628,336,

patented May 10, 1927.

Figure 5 of Shiple'ys patent discloses a printing hammer adapted to make twoimpressions on an insertable record material. By using this mechanism, however, it is impossible to print once only on the inserted record material, Shipleys structure either prints twice on an inserted record 7 material or not at all.

But it is not always desired to print twice on the inserted record material, for which reason applicant now proposes to providea manual control to disable the hammer disabling means, and by other improvements, to control the hammer so that either one or two impressions may be made at each operation of the machine at the will of the operator.

Specifically, this invention comprises" a novel manually-controlled locking device to positively prevent the pivoted impression hammer from making one or more impressions.

The mechanism to which this invention is applied, includes a drive shaft 10 (Fig.1) from which the various parts of the machine, on which the device is used, are operated. A. gear 11, pinned to this shaft,

meshes with an intermediate or idler gear 12, which, in turn, mesheswith a gear 13,

faston a printer drive shaft 14, to rotate this gear and shaft through one complete cycle in a counter-clockwise direction at eachoperation of the machine. The'drive shaft 10 may be driven by a motor of conventional design through a clutch mechanism (partly'shown) of well known design, such as that disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent, N 0. 1,144,418, issuedto C. F. Kettering and 'VV. A; Chryst, on June 29, 1915.

The free end of a clutchdetent 15 pivotally supported on the stud 16, projecting from the side frame (not shown) of the machine, normallylies in the path of and arrests a block 17 fast on a clutch disk 18, forming a part ofthe driven memberv of the clutch mechanism, to hold the shaft at the end of its driving rotation with the clutch members disconnected. A pin 27 connects one arm 26 of a clutch control lever 25 pivoted on the stud 16 to the tail of the clutch detent 15. A spring 19 connected to the remaining arm 20 of the clutch control 1ever tends to rock the lever 25 and the clutch detent 15 in counter-clockwise direction to displace the detent and enable the clutch to become effective. An arm 40, the free end of which is slotted to embrace the pin 27 of the clutch control lever 25, is piv-,

oted on a shaft 39, and is connected by a hub with a trip arm 29, the free end of which is laterally extended, as at 28, to normally contact an arresting stud 3O projecting from the arm 31 of a starting key lever 32 piv- 'otally supported on a shaft 33. A release key 34 is mounted on the end of an arm 35 of the lever 32 which projects outside the casing of the machine.

The key 34 when depressed, rocks the lever 32 clockwise to remove the stud 30 from contact with the extended end 28 of the trip arm 29, whereupon the spring 19 rocks the clutch control lever 25 and the clutch detent 15 counterclockwise to disable the clutch detent and free the clutch members to effect an operative connection between the motor and the drive shaft 10. At the same time, an electric circuit is closed (in a manner not shown) to energize the motor to operate the register. When the clutch control lever 25 rocks counter-clockwise under the influence of the spring 19, the stud 27 on the arm 26 thereof carries the arm and consequently the trip arm 29 counter-clockwise therewith, which positions the arresting stud 30 between the lateral end 28 of the trip arm 29 and anon-repeat pawl 41, pivotally supported on the trip arm 29. When the shaft 10 and gear 11 have nearly completed one rotation, a stud 42 carried by the gear 11, wipes along a curved face 43 of the clutch control arm 20, to rock the clutch control lever 25 and the clutch detent 15 clockwise to position the end of the detent 15 in the path of the block 17 and arrest the latter and the driven clutch disk 18. The driven clutch disk 18, when arrested, effects the disconnection of the motor from the drive shaft, when the drive mechanism is in its home position. As the clutch control lever 25 rocks clockwise, it carries the arm 40 and trip arm 29 therewith, Whereupon a spring 44 rocks the starting lever 32 counter-clockwise to restore the arresting stud 30 to its position in the path of the trip arm 29. Meanwhile the restoring stud 42 escapes past the arm 20 of the clutch control lever 25, whereupon the spring 19 rocks the clutch detent 15, clutch control lever 25 and trip arm 29 until the laterally turned end 28 of the latter strikes the arresting stud 30 to retain the mechanism in the position shown in the drawings until it is again desired to operate the machine.

The counter-clockwise rotation of the drive shaft 10 and of the gear 11 by means of the gear 12, rotates the gear 13 and printer shaft 14 also in a counter-clockwise direction.

A hammer 62 pivoted at one end on a stud 48 in the machine frame (not shown) carries at its opposite end a platen 61 adapted to impress paper or other record material against the type carriers 64.

A stud 63 intermediate the ends of the hammer 62 projects across the path of an arm 46 of a hammer-driving bell crank 47 also pivoted on the stud 48, the weight of the hammer normally holding the stud 63 against the arm 46 of the bell crank.

A strong spring 52 connected to an arm 53 of the hammer driving bell crank 47 tends to rock the bell crank counter-clockwise against the stud 48 on the hammer to drive the hammer against the types, such movement of the hammer-driving bell crank being normally prevented by one of two cams 51, 54 fast on the printer shaft 14.

At the time of arrest of the drive mechanism as heretofore explained, the cam 51 is arrested in the path of the free end of the arm 46 of the hammer-driving bell crank 47, as shown in Fig. 2.

The printer shaft 14, as it commences its rotation, withdraws the cam 51 from the free end of the arm 46 of the driving bell crank 47, and at this time the succeeding cam 54 on the printer shaft 14 contacts a roller projecting laterally from the bell crank 47 and rocks the latter in clockwise direction to tension the spring 52, the hammer 62 rocking idly by gravity in clockwise direction with its stud 63 in contact with the arm 46.

Continued rotation of the printer shaft 14 and cam 54 finally causes the cam to escape the roller 45 and a shoulder 56 adjacent thereto on the arm 46 of the bell crank. whereupon the spring 52 snaps the bell crank 47 counter-clockwise to drive the hammer 62 in similar direction and effect an impression of the types on the type carriers Assuming the invention forming the subject matter of this specification to be removed, it is plain that farther continued ro tation of the printer drive shaft 14 and its cams 54, 51 will cause the cam 51 to rock the bell crank 47 counter-clockwise for a repeat impression, which will occur as the roller 45 and shoulder 56 ride off the end of cam 51 to again impress record material against the types of the type carriers 64 near the end of the complete rotation of the printer drive shaft 14, so that two successive imprints have been made during a single operation of the machine.

The foregoing is old and constitutes a part of this invention only in so far as it coacts with thenovel features hereinafter set forth to obtain the new results.

'As heretofore explained, it is sometimes desired to prevent the second impression blow of the hammer 62. To accomplish this purpose, a disabling latch 65, having a notch 66 therein is pivotally supported at 69 and cooperates with a stud 67 on a lug 68 projecting from the hannner 62. A pitman 70 pivoted at one end to a stud 71 projecting from the disablinglatch 65, has a slot at its opposite end which surrounds the printer shaft 14 for support and guidance. A spring 72 tends to draw the pitman towards the left, but is normally prevented from so doing by a cam 74 fast on the printer shaft 14, which cam 74 contacts a roller 73 on the pitman 70. A locking arm 75 fast on a shaft 76 is adapted to hook over the stud 71 to prevent movement of the disabling latch 65.

A crank arm 77 also fast on the shaft 76 enables the operator to manually adjust the locking arm 75 to its effective or inefiective posltion at will.

The cam 74 is so arranged on the printer" shaft 14 relatively to the cams 51' and 54 that when'the printer shaft is at rest, the hammer-driving bell crank 47 having previously dropped off the cam 51,'Fig. 2, the hammer-disabling cam 74 is located with its forward end in contact with the roller 73 on the pitman 70 to hold the hammer disabling latch in idle position.

And the hammer disabling cam is of such extent as to maintain the pitman at that limit of its movement wherein it retains the hammer disabling latch 65 in idle p0sition until after the first'imprint has been effected through the hammer-driving bell crank arm 46 dropping ofi of the cam 54.

Thereafter, the printer drive shaft 14, as it continues its rotation, turning with it the hammer disabling cam 74 and the hammer tripping cams 54 and 51, brings the reduced portion of the hammer disabling cam 74 opposite the stud 73 on the hammer disabling pitman 70, thereby enabling the spring 72 to draw the pitman 70 to the left (Fig. 1)

to fit the hammer disabling latch 65 over the stud 67 of the hammer 62 to positively hold the hammer in its normal position of rest.

The hammer tripping cam 51 then rocks the hammer driving bell crank 47 in clockwise direction to tension the hammer driving spring 52, but the hammer cannot follow the bell crank, as in the previous printing operation, and the arm 46 of the bell crank finally drops off the high part of the cam 5'1 with out effecting the hammer.

Thus the printing mechanism is effective to print but once during the normal operation of the machine equipped with this invention.

-When the operator desires toobtain two successive impressions during a single operation of the machine, he Wlll set the lock .ingarm to the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein it positively retains the hammer preventing the hammer disabling latch, and

consequently the pitman 70 from being drawn 'to the left (Fig. 1) by the spring '72-. When the locking arm 7 5 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, which is the two prints position, it positively restrains the disabling-latch 65 from moving to its effective position relatively to the hammer 62, and the latteris free to be operated by both cams 55- and 51'to make two successive impressions on oneoperation of the machine. However, by turning the crankarm 77 ninety degrees in clockwise direction to its one print position,'the locking arm 75 is disengaged from the stud 71, sothat, when the low point of the cam 74 arrives opposite the roller "73, the spring 72 can draw the pitman 70 to the left (Fig. l) to engage the notch 66 of the latch 65 over the stud 67, to positively hold'the hammer 62 against movement in either direction and render the second counter-clockwise movement of the bell crank 4-7 ineffective to operate the hammer. 7

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill-the objects primarily stated, it is to be'understood that it is not intendedto' confine the invention to the one form-or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. i

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In a printing mechanism, the combina-' tion with a hammer; and means to cause the hammer to make a plurality of impressions during a single operation of the machine; of-a' disabling latch adapted to prevent-cf fective movement of the hammerya pitman connected tothe-disabling latch; means to shift the disabling latch in opposite directionsalternately to render the hammer successively efiective and ineffective during a single operation; and a manually operable member to lock the disabling latch in its inefiective position throughout one or more operations of the machine.

2. In a printing mechanism, the combinationwith a hammer; and means to cause the hammer to make a plurality of impressions during a single operation of the machine; of a disabling latch adapted to prevent effective movement of the hammer; a pitman connected'to the disabling latch; a cam to automatically shift the disabling latch to its ineffective position during each operation of the machine; means to shift the latch to its 3 effective position; and a manually operable member to lock the disabling latch in its ineffective position. i

3. In a printing mechanism, the combination with a hammer; and means to cause the hammer to make a plurality of impressions during a single operation of the machine; of a disabling latch adapted to prevent effective movement of the hammer; a pitman connected to the disabling latch; a cam to automatically shift the disabling latch to its ineffective position during each operation of the machine; a resilient means to shift the disabling latch to its effective position; and a manually operable member to positively lock the disabling latch in its ineffective position against the influence of the resilient means.

a. In a printing mechanism, the combination With a hammer; and means to cause the hammer; a slidable member connected to the during a single operation of the machine; of means to prevent effective movement of the hammer; a sildable member connected to the disabling means; means to positively shift the slidable member to move the disabling means into its ineffective position during each operation of the machine; resilient means to move the slidable member to shift the disabling means into its effective position; and manually operable means to lock the disabling means in its ineffective position.

5. In a printing mechanism, the combination with a hammer; and means including a cam having a plurality of sections to operate the hammer to make a plurality of impressions during a single operation of the machine; of a rockable disabling latch adapted to engage the hammer to prevent effective movement thereof; a device connected to the latch and adapted to shift the same into its effective and ineffective positions; means, including a positively operated member and a resilient member, to hold said device in a position whereby the disabling means is held in its ineffective position While a certain one of the cam sections operates the hammer to effect an impression, and to shift said device to rock the disabling means into an effective position to render another of said cam sections ineffective to prevent the hammer from making an impression; and manually operable means to prevent shifting of said device by the resilient member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

VVILHELM KROPFF.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 1,761,572. Granted June 3, 1930, to

WILHELM KROPFF.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, lines 21 to 24, claim 4, strike out the semi-colon and words a slidable member connected to the during a single operation of the machine; of means to prevent effective movement of the hammer" and insert instead "to make a plurality of impressions during a single operation of the machine; of means to prevent effective movement of the hammer"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of July, A. D. 1930.

Wm. A. Kinnan, (Seal) Acting Commissioner'of Patents. 

